Saris M2 Smart Trainer

The one pick here that leaves your rear wheel on the bike, so there is no cassette to buy and setup is a matter of clamping the wheel in place. The trade-offs are the ones every wheel-on design carries. Saris quotes plus or minus 5 percent accuracy, and one review measured about 75 dB at 20 mph, well above the direct-drive trainers here, with tire choice affecting the figure. A hard-compound trainer tire is worth fitting to limit wear and slipping, and thru-axle bikes need an adapter bought separately. Choose it for occasional winter sessions on a tight budget, not for an apartment with thin walls.